7th grade punctuation

Question 1

Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • "Did you hear that?" She whispered. • "Did you hear that?" she whispered. • "Did you hear that"? she whispered. • "Did you hear that," she whispered?

• A. "Did you hear that?" She whispered.
• B. "Did you hear that?" she whispered.
• C. "Did you hear that"? she whispered.
• D. "Did you hear that," she whispered?

Question 2

Read the question and choose. Why do writers often use verbs like 'whispered' or 'snapped' instead of 'said'?

• A. because 'said' is incorrect
• B. to show how the words are spoken
• C. to avoid using quotation marks
• D. to make sentences shorter

Question 3

Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? I like swimming but my brother prefers tennis.

• A. yes
• B. no

Question 4

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • The shop was closed; we went home. • The shop; was closed we went home. • The shop was closed; because we went home. • The shop was; closed we went home.

• A. The shop was closed; we went home.
• B. The shop; was closed we went home.
• C. The shop was closed; because we went home.
• D. The shop was; closed we went home.

Question 5

Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The lights went out so, we lit some candles. • The lights went out, so we lit some candles. • The lights went out so we lit, some candles. • The lights, went out so we lit some candles.

• A. The lights went out so, we lit some candles.
• B. The lights went out, so we lit some candles.
• C. The lights went out so we lit, some candles.
• D. The lights, went out so we lit some candles.

Question 6

Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The road was blocked; we took a detour. • The road was blocked we took a detour. • The road was blocked: and we took a detour. • The road was blocked; and we took a detour.

• A. The road was blocked; we took a detour.
• B. The road was blocked we took a detour.
• C. The road was blocked: and we took a detour.
• D. The road was blocked; and we took a detour.

Question 7

There was only one thing he feared – the dark. What does the dash do here?

• A. It joins a prefix to a root word.
• B. It marks the start of speech.
• C. It adds emphasis to the final words.
• D. It shows missing letters.

Question 8

Is this sentence correct, a comma splice, or a run-on? It was raining, we stayed inside.

• A. correct
• B. comma splice
• C. run-on (fused) sentence

Question 9

This sentence is a comma splice. Which choice fixes it correctly? I love that song, it reminds me of summer. • I love that song, it, reminds me of summer. • I love, that song it reminds me of summer. • I love that song; it reminds me of summer. • I love that song it reminds me of summer.

• A. I love that song, it, reminds me of summer.
• B. I love, that song it reminds me of summer.
• C. I love that song; it reminds me of summer.
• D. I love that song it reminds me of summer.

Question 10

Which line of dialogue is punctuated correctly? • Mia said, "I'm going to be late." • Mia said, "i'm going to be late." • Mia said, "I'm going to be late". • Mia said "I'm going to be late."

• A. Mia said, "I'm going to be late."
• B. Mia said, "i'm going to be late."
• C. Mia said, "I'm going to be late".
• D. Mia said "I'm going to be late."

Question 11

Read the question and choose. In stories, what should you do each time a NEW person starts speaking?

• A. start a new paragraph (new line)
• B. use single quotation marks instead
• C. put the words in capitals
• D. leave out the speaker tag

Question 12

Does this sentence need a comma before the conjunction? The fox sniffed the air and vanished into the hedge.

• A. yes
• B. no

Question 13

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • I have been to; Oslo, Norway, Lyon, France and Porto, Portugal. • I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal. • I have been to Oslo; Norway, Lyon; France, and Porto; Portugal. • I have been; to Oslo Norway Lyon France and Porto Portugal.

• A. I have been to; Oslo, Norway, Lyon, France and Porto, Portugal.
• B. I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal.
• C. I have been to Oslo; Norway, Lyon; France, and Porto; Portugal.
• D. I have been; to Oslo Norway Lyon France and Porto Portugal.

Question 14

Which sentence is punctuated correctly? • The cat stretched, and curled up by the fire. • The cat stretched and curled up by the fire. • The cat stretched and, curled up by the fire. • The cat, stretched and curled up by the fire.

• A. The cat stretched, and curled up by the fire.
• B. The cat stretched and curled up by the fire.
• C. The cat stretched and, curled up by the fire.
• D. The cat, stretched and curled up by the fire.

Question 15

Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Lions hunt in groups; and tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups, tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups tigers usually hunt alone. • Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone.

• A. Lions hunt in groups; and tigers usually hunt alone.
• B. Lions hunt in groups, tigers usually hunt alone.
• C. Lions hunt in groups tigers usually hunt alone.
• D. Lions hunt in groups; tigers usually hunt alone.

Question 16

"I think… I think I've seen this place before," she whispered. What does the ellipsis (…) show?

• A. That the sentence is a question.
• B. That a word is spelt wrongly.
• C. Hesitation or a trailing pause in speech.
• D. That the speaker is shouting.